Behind the Star

Behind the Star is the official podcast of the Orange County Sheriff's Office, the largest law enforcement agency in Central Florida. From forensics to dispatch to the deputies on patrol, we share stories and talk to the brave men and women of law enforcement.

The Murder of John Stagner 08/15/2022

The Murder of John Stagner In August 1992, deputies at the Orange County Sheriff's Office found the body of John Stagner. An Orange County maintenance worker, Stagner had been beaten to death in his bed at a county maintenance property where he lived. Last week, Orange County Sheriff John Mina announced the arrest of Ronald Cates in connection with the murder. Corporal Dave Nutting and Detective Kevin Wilson talk to Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker about the murder and how the case was solved. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/24059067

Crime Prevention: Stopping Crime Before It Happens 07/26/2022

Crime Prevention: Stopping Crime Before It Happens Members of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Crime Prevention Unit work with the community to stop a crime before it can occur. Sgt. Helen Harvey and Master Deputy Stanley Murray talk to Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker about the Crime Prevention Unit and how a few simple upgrades can reduce the likelihood of being a victim of crime. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/23866542

Riding with the Motor Unit 06/30/2022

Riding with the Motor Unit The Orange County Sheriff's Office Motor Unit is a county-wide unit that conducts traffic enforcement as well as provides security escorts for visiting dignitaries, conducts funeral escorts and participates in community relations and educational events. Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker talks to Lt. Mark Conner and Sgt. Dave McDaniels of the Motor Unit about speeding and aggressive driving in Orange County, how to get them to come to your neighborhood and what it's like cruising around on a motorcycle. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/23591072

Ready Player One - The OCSO Mobile Video Game Trailer 05/17/2022

Ready Player One - The OCSO Mobile Video Game Trailer The Orange County Sheriff's Office's Mobile Video Game Theater is one of the newest vehicles at the agency. The "Game Trailer," which is decked out with some of the latest video game systems, is meant to create a connection between law enforcement and the youth in Orange County. Sgt. D'Angelo Bell and Deputy Micheaux Boyce talk to Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker about the Video Game Theater and how OCSO's Community Relations Section uses it. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/23142560

The First First Responders 04/06/2022

The First First Responders If you dial 9-1-1 in Orange County, the call goes to the Orange County Sheriff's Office Communications Center. The center receives more than a million calls every year. On this episode of Behind the Star, Emergency Communications Specialist Nancy Grassi and Dispatcher Nikayla Phillip talk to host Jon Busdeker about life at the Comm Center. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/22705715

Talking About AIM: Analytics, Intelligence and Monitoring 02/08/2022

Talking About AIM: Analytics, Intelligence and Monitoring Analytics, Intelligence and Monitoring, better known as AIM, is a unit that assists deputies in real-time. With access to thousands of video feeds from across the county, detectives and analysts can monitor a situation and help deputies responding to calls for service. Sergeant Glenn Arguilla talks to Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker about AIM and how it works. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/22062437

Sector 5: The Tourist Corridor of OCSO 01/11/2022

Sector 5: The Tourist Corridor of OCSO Sector V is commonly known as the tourist corridor. Home to many attractions and hotels, as well as more than 25,000 residents, the sector includes SeaWorld Orlando, Universal Orlando and the Orange County Convention Center. Captain Joe Scutero talks to Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker about Sector 5 and its unique challenges. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/21746105

Sheriff John Mina: A Year in Review 12/21/2021

Sheriff John Mina: A Year in Review Orange County Sheriff John Mina sits down with Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker to talk about the agency and its initiatives in 2021. From the launch of the Autism Decal Program to the new policy of releasing body-cam video, Mina discusses a wide range of topics in this year in a review podcast. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/21558407

Cold Case: The Lil' Champ Murder 11/23/2021

Cold Case: The Lil' Champ Murder In 1996, Terry Paquette was murdered at the Lil' Champ convenience store in northwest Orange County. He was stabbed 73 times. The case went unsolved for more than 25 years. OCSO Det. Brian Savelli and Corporal Dave Nutting talk to Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker talk about the case, how it was solved and the man arrested for Paquette's murder. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/21259700

What's Up with the West Side?: Sector III Captain Dennis Ela 10/13/2021

What's Up with the West Side?: Sector III Captain Dennis Ela Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker returns to Sector III to talk to Captain Dennis Ela. Sector III is comprised of the western portion of Orange County and includes the communities of Pine Hills, Orlo Vista, Horizon West and more. Captain Ela is a 26-year veteran of the Sheriff's Office and was assigned to Sector III in January 2021. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/20807045

Learning to Ride: OCSO Bike School 09/29/2021

Learning to Ride: OCSO Bike School Sgt. Wayne Lenihan teaches Bike School at the Orange County Sheriff's Office. During the 40-hour training sessions, deputies learn the proper way to ride a bike, including how to brake, dismount and maneuver various terrains. Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker talks to Lenihan about the class and why deputies on bikes are so vital to the agency. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/20643899

Fighting Terrorism and Crime: Central Florida Intelligence Exchange 09/20/2021

Fighting Terrorism and Crime: Central Florida Intelligence Exchange The Central Florida Intelligence Exchange, better known as CFIX, is a partnership between law enforcement agencies across the region to exchange information and intelligence. At its core, the mission of CFIX is to disrupt and deny terrorist and criminal activity. CFIX Director Matt Butler and Deputy Director Jon Cute talk to Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker about the role of CFIX and how it's protecting Central Florida. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/20535245

Service Members Wanted: The OCSO Military Recruiter 09/07/2021

Service Members Wanted: The OCSO Military Recruiter If you are active military or a veteran, the Orange County Sheriff's Office wants you. In this episode, host Jon Busdeker talks to Military Field Recruiter Rick DeMarco about where he finds military recruits, what happens if a deputy gets deployed and how OCSO is one of the best agencies in the country for hiring and supporting veterans. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/20397221

It's Da Bomb - OCSO Hazardous Devices Team 06/21/2021

It's Da Bomb - OCSO Hazardous Devices Team What happens if an explosive is discovered in Orange County? The OCSO Hazardous Devices Team, or Bomb Squad, is usually called out to dispose of it. Lieutenant Chris Hall and Master Deputy Kris Brooks talk to Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker about explosives, the bomb suit and how the team gets to blow stuff up. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/19549427

Pulse Remembered - Special Episode 06/10/2021

Pulse Remembered - Special Episode Orange County Sheriff John Mina and Undersheriff Mark Canty discuss the Pulse nightclub shooting, how law enforcement responded and how the community can honor the victims. In 2016, at the time of the shooting, both Mina and Canty worked for the Orlando Police Department. It has been five years since a gunman killed 49 people and injured dozens at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/19428722

Saving You $$$ - Economic Crimes Squad 04/15/2021

Saving You $$$ - Economic Crimes Squad The Orange County Sheriff's Office Economic Crimes Squad is responsible for investigating the crimes of identity theft, credit card fraud, check fraud, embezzlement and various other “white collar” type crimes. Detectives Brian Hummel and Jacob Devine talk to Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker wild world of economic crimes and how to avoid being scammed. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/18740000

Patrolling OBT and Beyond: Sector 4 Capt. Chris Barrett 04/07/2021

Patrolling OBT and Beyond: Sector 4 Capt. Chris Barrett Sector 4 of the Orange County Sheriff's Office is made up of mostly South Orange County, including the areas around Orange Blossom Trail. Captain Chris Barrett took over the Sector in October 2020. A native of Central Florida, Barrett has been at OCSO for 25 years. Barrett talks to Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker about Sector 4, the challenges patrolling the area and what he hopes to accomplish as Captain. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/18641381

Operation Quiet Nights: Stopping Street Racing and Illegal Motorcycles 03/31/2021

Operation Quiet Nights: Stopping Street Racing and Illegal Motorcycles Operation Quiet Nights is a multi-agency effort designed to stop street racers and illegal motorcycles in Orange County. Lt. Michael Crabb, the incident commander of Operation Quiet Nights, talks to Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker about the operation and how teams of law enforcement officers issued more than 1,700 tickets in two months. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/18551471

Meet the new Chief Deputy: Denise Demps 03/11/2021

Meet the new Chief Deputy: Denise Demps Denise Demps is the newest Chief Deputy at the Orange County Sheriff's Office. An Orlando native, Demps has been with OCSO for nearly 30 years and is the first Black woman promoted to Chief Deputy. Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker sat down with Demps to talk about her career at OCSO and her goals as the new Chief Deputy. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/18288419

Meet the LGBTQ Liaisons 03/01/2021

Meet the LGBTQ Liaisons The OCSO LGBTQ Liaisons are available to work work with all sectors and units of the Sheriff’s Office to identify with LGBT citizens and address their concerns. Lt. Brandon Ragan and Det. Mara Everson talk to Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker about the LGBTQ Liaison program, working at OCSO and how to sign up for the Safe Place initiative. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/18139838

Driving the OCSO Way 01/20/2021

Driving the OCSO Way The Orange County Sheriff's Office Law Enforcement Vehicle Operations (LEVO) section offers training designed to enhance the driving skills of OCSO deputies and civilians. Sgt. Michael Rosignol talks to Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker about PIT maneuvers, braking exercises and just how difficult it is for some drivers to go in reverse. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/17621879

Launching the Behavioral Response Unit 01/11/2021

Launching the Behavioral Response Unit The new Behavioral Response Unit at the Orange County Sheriff's Office pairs an OCSO deputy with a trained clinician from Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health. Sgt. Bruce Vail and Christin Edwards-Salinas discuss the new Behavioral Response Unit, how the unit will respond to calls and what the teams have encountered in the field. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/17498837

From Blood to Bikes - A Trip to OCSO Evidence 11/02/2020

From Blood to Bikes - A Trip to OCSO Evidence Every month, the Orange County Sheriff's Office takes in roughly 7,000 pieces of evidence. From firearms to bicycles to blood, a majority of the evidence is stored in a warehouse in Orange County. Evidence Manager Gene Bernal talks to Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker about the evidence process and how OCSO stores 500,000 pieces of evidence. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/16655747

Sector 6 - Keeping Walt Disney World Safe 10/07/2020

Sector 6 - Keeping Walt Disney World Safe Sector 6 of the Orange County Sheriff's Office is tasked with keeping Walt Disney World and the areas around it safe. Sector Commander Captain Bill Van de Water talks to Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker about the unique challenges of Sector 6, the growth in the sector and how deputies interact with tourists from across the globe. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/16306091

Nightriders - OCSO Evening Traffic Unit 09/18/2020

Nightriders - OCSO Evening Traffic Unit It's a different world on the roads at night in Orange County. The Orange County County Sheriff's Office Evening Traffic Unit patrols the streets in marked and unmarked cars, specializing in DUI investigations, street racing and more. Deputies Ernesto Martinez and Steve Hallock talk to Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker about what goes on after dark. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/16068380

How to Train a Deputy 08/20/2020

How to Train a Deputy From simulators to how to drive a patrol vehicle, training is ongoing at the Orange County Sheriff's Office. Cpl. Sebastian Santos of the Field Training and Evaluation Unit talks to Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker about how OCSO deputies train and what they do to prepare for the job. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/15690134

The Joy of Sketching 07/30/2020

The Joy of Sketching Bigger nose? Smaller eyes? Taller forehead? Master Deputy Timothy Horne can do it all as the Sketch Artist at the Orange County Sheriff's Office. Horne, a near 25-year veteran of law enforcement, talks to Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker about the process of sketching a suspect, how he learned to draw and how he works with victims on crafting a sketch. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/15413231

Taking a Dip with the OCSO Dive Team 07/17/2020

Taking a Dip with the OCSO Dive Team The Orange County Sheriff's Office Dive Team is made up of 20 members who are responsible for recovering items or people in Central Florida's bodies of water. OCSO Dive Team Corporal Bim Lowers and Master Deputy Billy McCoy talk to Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker about finding guns in lakes, how difficult it is to locate a submerged car and what happens when they find a body in the water. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/15250118

Victim Advocate Squad - Supporting The Victims Of Crime 07/14/2020

Victim Advocate Squad - Supporting The Victims Of Crime The sudden, unexpected loss of a loved one is a most difficult time for family members, friends, and loved ones of the deceased. When that loss is the result of a criminal act, suicide, or violent accident the tragedy becomes unbearable. OCSO Victim Advocate Koreen Baker talks to Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker about the Victim Advocate Squad and its role assisting crime victims or family members who have lost a loved one through violent act or unforeseen accident. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/15205832

Protecting Northwest Orange County 06/25/2020

Protecting Northwest Orange County Orange County native Captain Joe Carter oversees more than 110 deputies in Sector I in Northwest Orange County. Carter, who has been with OCSO for 30 years, talks with Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker about community policing, how the agency has changed since 1990 and why he loves his community. /episode/index/show/behindthestar/id/14968202

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